law-order
Babar gets 8 years in graft case
A Dhaka court on Tuesday sentenced former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar to eight years in jail in a corruption case.
Judge Mohammad Shahidul Islam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-7 handed down the punishment to Babar after holding him guilty of amassing ill-gotten wealth worth Tk 7.5 crore and hiding the information.
Read:Judgment in Babar’s graft case on Oct 12
The court also imposed a fine of Tk 10,000 on Babar and ordered the forfeiture of over Tk 6.26 crore in his bank account. Babar will have to undergo an additional three months' imprisonment if he fails to pay the fine.
As the convict has been behind the bars in this case since July 26, 2007, the court said that his sentence would be deducted from the period already served as an undertrial.
However, Babar’s counsel has appealed to the court against the judgment.
On January 13, 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the corruption case against Babar at the Ramna Model Police Station.
On July 16, 2008, deputy assistant secretary of ACC, Rupok Kumar Saha, submitted a chargesheet against him.
Read: Babar, 18 others to die; Tarique among 19 get life term
Babar was arrested from his Gulshan residence on May 28, 2007. He was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment in an arms case on October 30, 2007.
He was also sentenced to death in the 10-truck arms haul and August 21 grenade attack cases.
In 2018, a fast-track tribunal sentenced 19 people, including Babar, to death in the case filed over the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in the capital in 2004.
SC upholds order to investigate Rajarbagh Pir’s assets and bank accounts
The Supreme Court on Monday upheld an order to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate the assets and bank accounts held by Rajarbagh Darbar Sharif and its Pir Dillur Rahman and submit a report accordingly.
Chamber judge of the Appellate Division Justice Obaidul Hasan passed the order after rejecting Pir Dillur Rahman’s plea to an earlier High Court order in this regard.
Advocate Zahirul Islam Mukul stood for Rajarbagh Pir while Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir represented the petitioner.
On August 19, the High Court ordered the ACC to investigate the assets and bank accounts held by Rajarbagh Darbar Sharif and its Pir Dillur Rahman and submit a report accordingly.
The court also directed Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) of police to investigate if the Pir has any connection with any militant group.
The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order issuing a rule during a hearing on the writ petition filed by eight people harassed by false cases filed across the country by the Pir and his followers.
The court also directed the Criminal investigation Department (CID) to submit an investigation report within 60 days on all the false cases filed by the Pir and his followers.
In the rule, the court questioned why legal actions will not be taken against the accused for filing false, confusing and harassing cases making 20 including the senior secretary of the home ministry and police chief respondents.
On September 16, the eight victims filed the writ petition which said the syndicate of Pir Dillur Rahman violated their basic rights bestowed by articles 27, 31, 32 of the constitution in filing the false criminal cases against them.
Earlier on June 7, Ekramul Ahsan Kanchan, 55, resident of Shantibagh area in Dhaka filed a writ petition before the court to quash the 49 false cases filed against him across the country by syndicate of the Rajarbagh Pir.
Following which, the High Court directed CID to investigate the matter.
According to CID’s investigation report the Pir and his syndicate was pressuring Ekramul to handover a portion of his and his brother’s land in the name of Darbar Sharif which he denied.
Being upset Pir and his followers filed number of cases, including violence against women, rape, robbery, human trafficking against Ekramul in different districts.
On September 8, upon the submission of the report High Court expressed surprise over the Pir syndicate grabbing other’s lands and assets.
More e-commerce scams exposed: 6 officials of Tholay.com, WeCoom.com held
Members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detained six officials of Tholay.com and WeCoom.com on charge of embezzlement of Tk 2.5 crore.
They were detained after an aggrieved customer lodged a complaint with the police against the two e-commerce platforms on charge of fraud, said Additional Deputy Inspector General of CID Imam Hossain while briefing reporters at its headquarters on Monday.
The detainees are Nazrul Islam, head of operation of Tholay.com and WeCoom.com, Sohel Hossain, 27, accounts officer of the firms, Tarek Mahmud Anik, 28, digital communication officer, Sazzad Hossain alias Piash, 27, sales executive officer, Munna Pervez, 26, call centre executive officer and Masum Hasan, 27, supervisor.
Also read: E-commerce firms like Evaly, E-orange to face action: DMP
The CID team also recovered some documents of agreement, bank cheques, photocopy machines, registrars and currency counting machines from the office.
While briefing, Imam Hossain said the e-commerce platforms allured customers with many discounts and offers and swindled Tk 2.5 crore from them, he said.
Khairul Alam Mir, 27, a customer, complained that the companies offered many products at lucrative prices and promised that they would ensure delivery of their products within 30 days but failed to do that.
The scams of e-commerce platforms surfaced recently with the detection of fraudulence by a number of e-commerce firms, including Evaly and E-orange.
These online platforms took advance payments from customers by offering lucrative discounts but failed to supply the products.
Evaly
Evaly CEO Mohammad Rassel and his wife Shamima Nasrin were arrested after an aggrieved customer, Arif Baker, lodged a case with Gulshan police station accusing them and few other company executives of embezzlement of money.
Sub-inspector Ahidul Islam, the investigation officer of the case, said the case was registered over the allegation of embezzlement of money and fraudulence.
Besides, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), an arm of the Bangladesh Bank that specializes in financial crime investigations, directed all the commercial banks and financial institutions through a common letter on August 27 to freeze all the bank accounts operated by top executives of Evaly.
Also read: Money laundered by e-commerce firms to be recovered: Murad Hassan
The Directorate of National Consumer Right Protection, a department under the Commerce Ministry, received allegations from consumers about “cheating” by Evaly.
Bangladesh Bank officials said one of the major allegations against Evaly is forcing its consumers to deposit their money in the e-wallet of the firm which was totally illegal.
E-orange
On September 2, a Dhaka court sent virtual outlet e-orange.shop owner Sonia Mehzabin, her husband Masukur Rahman and, Chief Operating Officer, Aman Ullah to jail in a fraud case filed over embezzlement of Tk 1,100 crore from consumers.
On August 23, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Morshed Al Mamun Bhuiyan placed the accused on a 5-day remand in the case.
On August 17, the court sent them to jail rejecting their bail prayers when they surrendered to Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Abubakar Siddique's court.
On August 16, an aggrieved customer of E-Orange, Md Taherul Islam, filed a fraud case with Gulshan police in presence of 37 other customers who testified against the accused.
One year on, justice for Raihan’s death in custody still remains elusive
Even though one year has elapsed since the shocking death of Raihan Ahmed in ‘custody’, his family members are worried as there has been little progress in starting the trial of the sensational case to bring the offenders to justice.
The slow pace in the investigation has led to frustration among Raihan's family members as they are still on the streets demanding justice.
On Sunday afternoon, the day before the one-year death anniversary, Raihan's mother and wife took part in a human chain here with Raihan's one and a half years’ old baby girl, Alfa, in the lap of one of the participants, demanding justice for the murder.
Read: Raihan custodial death case: Sylhet court accepts chargesheet against 6
Family’s frustration
At the human chain, Raihan's frustrating mother, Salma Begum, and wife, Tahmina Akhter Tani, demanded that the trial of Raihan's murder be disposed of as soon as possible.
Salma Begum said, “Even though most of the accused were arrested, we’re disappointed over the delay in submitting the chargesheet. The case could be shifted to a Speedy Trial Tribunal, if necessary.”
Tani said Abdullah Al Noman, one of the accused, is still on the run and he might have fled the country. “The authorities should immediately trace him and do whatever is needed to bring him back if he’s hiding abroad,” she said.
Chuadanga fugitive arrested in Dhaka after 8 years
A man who was sentenced to one year jail in a check fraud case in 2013 has been arrested at Banani in Dhaka.
Jainul Abedin Johnny alias Tawfiq, 39, of Belgachhi area in Chuadanga district was arrested on Sunday morning from a Bananii residence in the capital.
Read:Detectives arrest fugitive drug dealer in Natore
Chuadanga Sadar Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Mohsin said Tawfiq was handed over to a court at 4.30 pm on Sunday,
Tawfiq’s unpaid loans stood at Tk 2.5 crore in 2013 after he incurred huge losses in old vehicles and motor parts businesses in 2010 and 2012.
Several cases were filed against him in Dhaka and Chuadanga courts.
Read:Biswajit Das murder case: Fugitive convict held in Faridpur
In one of them, he was sentenced to one year imprisonment in a case over check fraud in 2013. He remained fugitive since then.
OC Mohsin said he was convicted in six cases and there are a total of 10 arrest warrants against him.
Free Fire-maker Garena applies to be party to legal fight
Garena Online Pvt Ltd of Singapore, the maker of the Free Fire game, has appealed to the High Court to join the hearing of the rule on banning harmful games, including PUBG and Free Fire from online platforms of Bangladesh.
The petition was heard for the third day on Sunday. The court has fixed October 26 as the date for their attending the hearing.
HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order.
Barristers Junaid Ahmed Chowdhury and Tanvir Quader were present on behalf of Garena's application and Barrister Humayun Kabir Pallab was present at the hearing on behalf of the writ petition.
Earlier, on August 16, HC asked the authorities concerned to take steps to remove harmful games including PUBG and Free Fire from online platforms in Bangladesh.
The court also issued a rule seeking explanation as to why all types of online games and apps like Tiktok, Bigo Live, PUBG, Free Fire Games and Likee should not be banned.
Read: Garena Free Fire Battlegrounds Game Tips and Tricks for the Beginners
On 24 June, Law and Life Foundation, a human rights organization, filed the writ petition with the High Court seeking directives to ban Likee, TikTok, Bigo Live apps, and PUBG and Free Fire games in Bangladesh.
Secretary to the Post and Telecommunication Division, Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, Education, Home, Law and Health secretaries, and the Inspector General of Police, Bangladesh Bank, bKash, Nagad and 18 other individuals and organizations were asked to respond to the rule within 10 days.
Garena Online Pvt Ltd of Singapore earlier applied to the HC to take part in the rule hearing. According to the application, there are many players of Free Fire in Bangladesh. For the link backing of Free Fire in Bangladesh, Garena has been facing direct financial losses and that’s why they want to take part in the hearing.
However, Barrister Pallab said Garena is a registered company of Singapore. They have no legal registration or office in Bangladesh. So, legally they do not have the opportunity to apply for taking part at the hearing.
On June 24, Supreme Court lawyers Barrister Mohammad Humayun Kabir Pallab and Barrister Mohammad Kawshar filed the writ petition on behalf of the human rights organization Law and Life Foundation.
Appellate Division suspends HC order staying BFUJ election
The Appellate Division on Sunday suspended the High Court’s 2-month-stay order on the elections of Bangladesh Federal union of Journalists (BFUJ).
Chamber judge Justice Obaydul Hasan passed the order during a hearing on the writ petition filed seeking a stay on the HC order.
With this order, there remains no bar to holding the election which was scheduled for October 23, said petitioner’s lawyer Nure Alam Ujjal.
On September 23, Mohammad Hasan Ferdous, former general secretary of Chattogram Journalist Union, sought the stay until his name was included as a voter.
Also read: HC stays BFUJ election after complaint by an aggrieved member
On September 28, following the petition the High Court issued a rule and ordered a two-month stay on the election of BFUJ.
On October 7, Candidate for Director General’s position in the election Dip Azad filed a petition to participate in the case and sought a stay on the High Court’s order.
Senior lawyer AM Amin Uddin (Attorney General), Sheikh Md Morshed (Deputy Attorney General), Nure Alam Ujjal and Rafsan Alvi presented the petitioner’s side in the court today. Meanwhile, lawyer Shah Manjurul Haque, Tirtha Shalil Paul and Nurul Karim appeared for the earlier petition.
On September 25, BFUJ published the names of candidates in different posts for the election.
BFUJ election commission has published a final list of 33 valid candidates out of 34 nominations filed.
Also read: BFUJ demands implementation of 9th wage board
According to BFUJ about 4,000 members have been declared eligible to vote in the election.
Senior Journalist Shahjahan Sardar will conduct the polls as the Chief Election Commissioner.
Pori Moni granted permanent bail in narcotics case
A Dhaka court on Sunday granted bail to film actress Pori Moni and Ashraful Islam Dip in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sattabrata Shikder passed the order when Pori Moni’s counsel submitted a petition seeking bail for his clients.
The court also accepted the chargesheet and sent it to Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge for trial.
Also read: CID submits charge sheet against film actress Pori Moni
Dip was an associate of Raj Multimedia owner Nazrul Islam Raj.
Earlier on October 4, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) submitted a charge sheet against film actress Pori Moni and two others in the case.
CID inspector and also the investigating officer of the case Kazi Mostafa Kamal submitted the charge sheet to Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.
Pori was arrested on August 4, following a raid by RAB on her Banani residence.
A case was filed against her under the Narcotics Control Act the following day.
Also read: HC asks 2 lower court judges to explain further on Pori Moni’s multiple remands
On August 22, she was sent to jail after inspector of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Kazi Golam Mostafa produced her in a court on the completion of a one-day remand, her third.
On August 31, a Dhaka court granted bail to Pori Moni in the drugs case until submission of chargesheet.
She walked out of jail the following day.
Absconding rapist sentenced to life imprisonment in Rangpur
A Rangpur court on Wednesday sentenced a man to life term imprisonment for the rape of a minor girl in 2018.
Judge of Woman and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-1 Zabid Hasan passed the verdict in absence of the absconding convict Mehedi Hasan.
The court also acquitted four others accused in the case, as the prosecution could not prove charges brought against them, said the public prosecutor Advocate Khandaker Rofique Hasnain.
According to the statement of the case, Mehedi Hasan used to stalk the girl on her way to and from the school.
On July 7, 2018 he abducted the girl, a student of class nine, and took her to Dhaka where he raped her.
Following a case filed by the father of the victim, police rescued the girl from Ashulia in Dhaka after seven days of her abduction.
One to die, 5 get different jail terms for carrying cocaine in Khulna
A Khulna Court on Thursday sentenced a man to death and five others to different terms in a case over possessing cocaine in 2017.
The condemned convict is Bikash Chandra Biswas. He was also fined Tk one lakh.
Read: Trading, using 200 grams of Yaba to invite death sentence
Khulna District and Sessions Judge Mashiur Rahman Chowdhury handed down the verdict in presence of two convicts.
Besides, Sohel Rana was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Tk one lakh, Arifur Rahman alias Sagir sentenced to 15 years rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk one lakh, in default, to suffer another two years more RI.
The court sentenced Bikash Chandra Mandal, Ershad and Fazlur Rahman Fakir to 10 years imprisonment and fined Tk 25,000 each, in default, to suffer another year of imprisonment.
According to the case statement, tipped off, a team of Khulna Rab-6 arrested Sohel Rana conducting a drive at Moylapota crossing of Khulna city on August 11 in 2017. They also seized 230 grams of cocaine worth Tk 2.30 crore from Sohel’s possession.
Based on Sohel’s information given during interrogation, Rab men arrested five others conducting different drives in the city. Later, they seized 20 more grams of cocaine worth Tk 2.20.
Rab official Md Rabiul Islam filed a case under the Narcotic Control Act at Rupsha Police Station against the six arrestees.